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It’s easy to criticise other’s selections and as they say no one ever erected a statue to a critic.
As such, it’s time to bite the bullet. It’s time we changed the paradigm on how we pick our national side. It’s time we learnt from the NZ Darkness and dare I say it our league competitors. It’s time to unpick all the complexity and get back to basics. It’s time to set our men free to run, tackle and score tries.
It’s time to bring back the Mongrel Metre: Or, it’s time for the Pretty Mummy’s Boys (PMBs) to take a back seat and let the men do the job.
Here is the squad I’d select on character to initially face Les Bleus:
FORWARDS
First of all let’s lay down some basic ground rules. A good forward pack consists of honest, hardworking forwards, at least one madman and if you’re lucky a conman. Potgieter for instance, admirably fills one role for the Tahs, McCaw fills the other for the Darkness.
1. Slipper – Hard worker all over the park.
2. Moore – Mr. Reliable, a quiet achiever who just gets the job done.
3. Sio – To provide some grunt at the front.
4. Jones – Some real mongrel in the engine room.
5. Simmons – Token PMB in the pack and someone has to call the lineout.
6. Hodgson(c) – Goes all day long and leads from the front.
7. Hooper – See comment for six above. Good link to the backs as well, but too young yet to be captain.
8. Higginbotham – Madman, say no more.
BACKS
Again some ground rules. The whole point of the backline is for the centre combination to pierce the defence like an arrowhead, if you will, and score tries. With wingers mixing it up, coming inside and running inside support lines against the run of play, and now and then, getting the ball like Ioane and adding to the confusion.
9. Genia (vc) – Like Darius Boyd He is not in the best of form but McKenzie will sort him out once he gets him into camp. Main job is to provide fast accurate ball to 10 but also to run now and then to keep the opposition honest.
10. Foley – Our little general but not a hogger of the ball. His main job is to set up his outside backs and run when the opposition starts thinking that’s all he can do.
11. Cummins – Makes lions slink away but forbidden to kick.
12. Toomua – Forget 9 and 10. 12 and 13 is where it all happens and Toomua can do it.
13. Kurindrani – Strong hard straight runner and good foil for 12.
14. McCabe – No Usain Bolt but has added some new skills to his game and good at the back and he will help Folau out if necessary.
15. Folau – Picks himself but still some chinks in his game.
Palu – Madman on the bench.
Polota-Nau – Well he looks angry enough and he’ll be ok with new contact lenses so he can throw straight.
Kepu – Another proven madman.
Skelton – Madman in training.
McCalman – Slightly mad.
Beale – Token PMB in the backs. Can cover a few positions further out just not to be let too close to the action.
Phipps – His game has picked up in recent weeks and in case Genia goes down. He already has an established combination with Foley.
Lealiifano – Covers quite a few positions in the line and good solid performer.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.